UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY fisheries & aquaculture

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GETTING BEYOND THE SURFACEOF BLUE GROWTH POTENTIALDescribing the benefits of blue growth within Europe, Maria Damanaki,former European Commissioner for Marine Affairs and Fisheries detailsthe importance of acting now to build on existing progress…

The “blue economy” is already creating new jobs inEurope. But we have only just scratched the surfaceof its potential. We have been thinking about how

to build on existing progress and how we can benefitfrom new research insights to ensure that this maritimeeconomy can continue to generate jobs across Europe.

As the European and global economies continue tonavigate themselves out of dangerous waters, the worldhas to face up to twin challenges. How do we provide theeconomic opportunities to lift people out of povertybearing in mind that there will be at least another billionof us on the planet in the next decade or so? And how dowe address environmental risks that, if left unmitigated,could lead to a catastrophe in which we do not have theresources to provide the energy or food we need to live?

Both questions need to be tackled without delay if weare to ward off disaster for the next generation. Sounsurprisingly the European Union’s focus is on supportingthose areas which can address both the need foreconomic growth and the need to preserve our planet.

This is why we are turning to the blue economy. Ourrecently adopted EU strategy on Blue Growth is wherethese twin challenges meet – it is all about prioritisingthe use of ocean resources sustainably as a driver forgrowth and jobs in Europe.

Every year half the planet’s sunlight falls on seas andoceans and half the organic matter is created there.The wind, the tides and waves offer energy that doesnot contribute to global warming. Every year a higherproportion of new wind farms are already built offshorewhilst fish and shellfish, increasingly from fish farms, arethe fastest growing source of animal protein worldwide.

This year’s European Maritime Day Conference, held inBremen, Germany in May, was a big part of thatthinking. Over 2 days ministers, industry experts, policymakers, and many others debated and swapped ideas asto how the different sectors in the maritime economycan work together catalyse the investment and

innovation needed for sustained growth. Participantsconcluded that:

• There is a vast potential for jobs and sustainablegrowth in the maritime economy. To exploit it we needto invest more in knowledge and innovation and focuson placing sustainability at the heart of Blue Growth.

• The issues related to seas and oceans can only beaddressed at international level – more globalgovernance is of paramount importance. The EU’sMaritime Spatial Planning and Maritime SecurityStrategy are good examples of what can be achieved.

The timing of the European Maritime Day Conferencewas ideal, as it took place only 2 weeks after weunveiled our EU action plan to drive innovation in themaritime economy. If we are to exploit our waters in asustainable way, a number of challenges need to beovercome.

“The “blue economy” is already creating new jobsin Europe. But we have only just scratched thesurface of its potential. We have been thinkingabout how to build on existing progress and howwe can benefit from new research insights toensure that this maritime economy can continue togenerate jobs across Europe.”

For instance our knowledge about the sea is still limitedand maritime research in different countries is notlinked up. Unsurprisingly access to finance is also arecurring theme heard when out and about talking toresearchers and entrepreneurs alike. We are doing whatwe can to cut red tape and incentivise investmentacross all industries.

But we have also identified 3 issues that are particularto the blue economy – poor marine knowledge,fragmented marine research and shortage of skills. Wewill address those by reducing bottlenecks in accessingmarine data, creating a multi-resolution seabed map ofEuropean waters and by making sure that we have the

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people with the right skills in place to fill the new jobswe hope to create.

We don’t just need to develop innovative products butalso ensure that we continue to develop the skills andtechnology needed for the longer term. That’s why weare extending programmes like Erasmus to includefostering cooperation in education and training andwhy, through our dedicated research and innovationfund, we will equip Europe’s best scientists andinnovators with the tools they need to do their work.

The costs of cutting-edge research is greater than everbefore, and even with our investment are often toolarge for individual organisations so we will encourageand incentivise co-operation and results sharing.

Our seas and oceans, just like all other naturalresources, are not infinitely substitutable and globalenvironmental and economic challenges are on an

unprecedented scale. The way we respond to them willrequire greater levels of ingenuity and innovation thanever before. I am glad for having picked the brains ofEurope’s brightest minds in Bremen’s European MaritimeDay and seen the maritime sector to share ideas on howsustainable growth from the seas can bring Europe’seconomy back to safer waters and ensure that we leave alegacy of opportunity to tomorrow’s Europeans.

Maria Damanaki former European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and FisheriesEuropean Commissionwww.ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/damanaki/index_en.htm

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…for the EU to implement itsBlue growth policy, it mustlook beyond its own borders.Capacity building through theUnited Nations UniversityFisheries Training Programmeprovides leverage for sectordevelopment.

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International trade in fish and fish products has grownrapidly over the past few decades and now far exceedsthe trade of any other food commodity. The importanceof fisheries and increasing global trade means that forthe EU to implement its Blue growth policy, it must lookbeyond its own borders. Capacity building through theUnited Nations University Fisheries Training Programmeprovides leverage for sector development.

• About 75% of landings from capture fisheries and over90% of farmed fish come from developing countries1,

• Net export of fish from developing countries isestimated at about USD 35 billion per year2

• FAO estimates that about 90% of exploited fish stocksare either over fished or fully fished

FISHERIES DEVElOPMENT AND NORTH/SOUTH COllABORATIONEstablished in 1998, the United Nations UniversityFisheries Training Programme in Iceland is a long runningresearch and training programme which aims to enhanceinstitutional and individual capacity in developingcountries to support the sustainable use of living aquaticresources. Through a wide range of activities taking placeall over the world, the UNU-FTP serves as a competencycenter for cutting edge fisheries science, management,and sustainable aquaculture.

Presently, the UNU-FTP is primarily funded through theIcelandic ODA budget, but has the potential to growprovided outside finding can be secured.

WHY ICElAND?Iceland has a long history of international developmentcooperation in the area of fisheries. At present, thestrategic plan of the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairshighlights fisheries as one key area of focus fordevelopment activities.

Given the importance of fishing to the national cultureand economy, a strong science-based system of fisheriesmanagement focused around sustainability and valuecreation has developed in Iceland. Drawing on expertise in

Iceland, the UNU-FTP collaborates with fisheriesprofessionals in partner countries to develop highlyrelevant and applicable research and trainingopportunities.

BUIlDING GlOBAllY RECOGNISED COMPETENCE INFISHERIES EDUCATIONThe UNU-FTP prides itself on developing world classeducation programmes related to fisheries development.As an interdisciplinary programme, the UNU-FTP drawsexpertise from academia, the fishing industry andgovernment to provide fellows with a holistic andmeaningful perspective on fisheries in their homecountries. This close connection between sectors relatedto fisheries is a core strength of the UNU-FTP.

In the 16 years since its establishment, the UNU-FTP staff,fellows and partner organisations have gained a broadview of the status and development of fisheries,particularly in developing countries. Three aspects arecritical for the development of the sector:

• Practice-led promotion of food security and safetythrough improved handling and processing practices.Fisheries differs from other food producing sectors inthat it is largely supply driven. Catches are oftenseasonal and the composite of the catch may varybetween seasons and between years. At the sametime fish is highly perishable, so proper handling andpreservation practices are of utmost importance tomaintain quality and value. Post-harvest losses interms of nutritional and economic value are high. Poor handling can cause otherwise healthy food packedwith essential vitamins, micro-nutrients, protein andpolyunsaturated fatty acids necessary for humangrowth and development to become dangerous forthose who consume it.

• Knowledge-based management of living aquaticresources must be based on accurate information andsound economic principles. Although information onstocks in many developing countries could be improved,available data together with sound understanding of fishbiology are usually good enough to evaluate the statusof stocks and give advice on management. This adviceshould consider the socio-economic situation and

Capacity enhancement forfisheries and aquaculture:International educational collaboration for sustainable growth in fisheries

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policies developed which can help policy makers usefisheries as a tool on the path towards sustainabledevelopment.

• Development of informed practice for sustainableaquaculture, which is the fastest growing food sector inthe world. More than 90% of all aquaculture is indeveloping countries, primarily in Asia, but there is agreat potential for aquaculture development in Africaand growth is already rapid in many African countries.Sustained growth is built on sound practices founded onunderstanding of such varied areas as genetics,economics, feed preparation and business.

UNU-FTP CORE VAlUES:• The UNU-FTP applies principles of sustainability in all

aspects of its educational and research activities

• Issues of gender equality are addressed in all activitiesundertaken by the UNU-FTP

• The UNU-FTP nurtures cooperation with institutions thatplay an important role in the implementation of fisheriespolicies in partner countries

• The UNU-FTP relies on cooperation between individuals;not only to jointly increase their knowledge of fisheries,but also to influence the development of fisheriesthrough leadership and professional practice

ACTION FOR IMPACT: THE UNU-FTP CORE ACTIVITIESSIx-MONTH COURSE IN ICElAND:Each year, around 20 fisheries professionals selectedthrough interviews and in consultations with our partners

come to Iceland to participate in the six-month trainingcourse. These professionals, so-called UNU-FTP fellows,are typically mid-career professionals from thegovernmental sector and academic institutions. To date,nearly 300 men and women from close to 50 countrieshave received fellowships for six months of training inIceland.

The course involves fellows in many field visits, anextended visit to northern Iceland, close cooperation withsupervisors, the development of personal goals andconsultations with visiting lecturers.

Through this intensive six month training, UNU-FTPfellows are empowered to actively contribute to theactivities in their own organisations. The training is highlyfocused on professional growth of individuals and theircompetency to address pressing challenges they face athome. The course is divided into three parts; a commonintroduction, an area of specialisation and an individualresearch project.

The five week introduction provides fellows with a view ofworld fisheries and aquaculture and they are encouragedto place fisheries development in their own countriesinto a regional and global context. This period establishesa foundation for fellows to develop a vision of thepotential of the fisheries in their home countries, and tocontextualise their work both later on in the six monthcourse and their role as fisheries professionals at home.

The six week long specialist course is designed todeepen the expertise of fellows in their chosen area ofspecialisation. This opportunity allows fellows to explore

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in detail one area of fisheries which relates to their work,and provides a firm context for the individual researchthey undertake later in the six month training. Fellowsmay specialise in one of the following areas:

• Marine and Inland-Waters Resources, Assessment andMonitoring

• Quality Management of Fish Handling and Processing(offered every year)

• Management of Fisheries Companies and Marketing

• Fisheries Policy and Planning

• Fishing Technology

• Sustainable Aquaculture

The final research projects undertaken by fellows addressimportant issues in their own countries and are oftenbased on data from their work (see figure opposite).

OPENING THE DOOR FOR CAPACITY BUIlDING INDEVElOPMENT PROjECTSThe six month programme can be a useful componentof development projects as a formal capacity buildingcomponent. Development projects often includescholarships for professional staff of partneringinstitutions/organisations, but degree studies tend totake many years and the formal university training is notalways flexible enough to provide specific trainingneeded in specific instances. The UNU-FTP prides itselfon working closely with its partners to meet their needs.

The six month training in Iceland caters well to peoplewith varying backgrounds. Through assignments and theindividual research project, fellows practice methodologiesand analyse available data or a problem central to theirwork at home. In addition to the 18-20 fellowships offeredby the UNU-FTP each year, the programme can add anadditional 6-8 fellows annually through external funds.

MOBIlISING ACTION: SHORT COURSE DEVElOPMENTAND DElIVERYIn 2004, the UNU-FTP expanded its work and began tofocus on providing financial and technical expertise forshort training courses on the ground in partner countries,often related to the work of former fellows.

The UNU-FTP has since developed and delivered close to40 such courses, training nearly 1000 participants. Shortcourses are typically designed and run in cooperation withspecialists from Iceland and from the target country orregion and often engage former UNU-FTP fellows. Casestudies used to explain and discuss topics and issues areused from the target area and active engagement ofparticipants is required.

The UNU-FTP seeks to cooperate with local traininginstitutes and universities which can then develop thematerials further and include them in their regularteaching. The UNU-FTP also cooperates with regionaland international organisations, such are the CaribbeanRegional Fisheries Mechanism and the Network ofAquaculture Centres in Acia-Pacific (NACA) on developmentand delivery of short courses and training. These coursesare often co-financed by other organisations ordevelopment projects.

The UNU-FTP builds individual and institutional capacity and fosters an ever-growing community of fisheries experts

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EUROPE TO THE WORlD: CREATING A GlOBAlCOMMUNITY OF SCHOlARSA pillar of the accomplishments of the UNU-FTP is theinternationally active community fisheries professionalscomprised of former fellows. The UNU-FTP facilitatesthe continued engagement of former fellows throughsupporting them to attend conferences and workshopsand develop short training courses in their home countries.This is done through direct involvement in conferencesand workshops in partner countries and through cooperationwith organisations such as International Federation ofFisheries Economics and Trade, and the World SeafoodCongress.

KNOWlEDGE BUIlDING THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS:CONNECTING WITH INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA ANDRESEARCH INSTITUTESThe UNU-FTP partners with universities, researchinstitutions, and the industry to develop the best availableeducational experience for our fellows. Over the years,the a pool of expertise has developed in Iceland relatedto development through fisheries, and the UNU-FTP seesthe benefit of that expertise in all its activities.

University of Iceland: The University of Iceland isresponsible for implementation of the Fisheries Policyand Planning line of specialisation. For more, visithttp://english.hi.is/

University of Akureyri: The University of Akureyri isresponsible for the specialist training in Managementof Fisheries Companies and Marketing. For more, visithttp://english.unak.is/

Hólar University College: Holar is responsible foradministration of the Sustainable Aquaculture line ofspecialisation. For more, visit http://www.holar.is/en/english

Matís: Matís is responsible for administration of theQuality Management of Fish Handling and Processing lineof specialisation. For more, visit www.matis.is/english

Marine Research Institute: The Marine Research Instituteis responsible for administration of the Marine and InlandWaters Resources, Monitoring and Assessment, andFishing Technology lines of specialisation. For more, visithttp://www.hafro.is/index_eng.php

1 http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s10531-012-0360-92 http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3720e.pdf

The UNU-FTP engages academia, industry, and research organisations to offer applied training for tangible solutions

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Drawing on expertise inIceland, the UNU-FTPcollaborates with fisheriesprofessionals in partnercountries to develophighly relevant andapplicable research andtraining opportunities.

United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme

Marine Research InstituteIceland

Tel: +354 575 2000www.unuftp.is

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